Group honors kids in foster care with balloon release ceremony

A group of 12 people gathered at Foundation Park in downtown Breckenridge Monday morning to launch balloons honoring foster children in Stephens County. During the ceremony, each person stepped forward with balloons in hand and read out either “Boy” or “Girl” and the child’s age and then released a single balloon in that child’s honor.

Also during the ceremony, Stephens County Justice of the Peace Michael Roach talked about the difficulty of having to deal with the cases of neglected children that come through his office. He then led the group in prayer before the launch and after it was completed.

Sharon Wimberley, president of the Stephens County Child Welfare Board, said the group tries to remind foster children that somebody cares about them and loves them.

She said the group will send cards or gifts to the children on Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas and provides them with school supplies. She said this year they will give them with backpacks that were provided by the state.

“We try to keep it where they know somebody cares about them,” Wimberley said.

The group released a total of 20 balloons to represent all the children who came through foster care in Stephens County between September 2017 and May. She said currently there are nine children in foster care in Stephens County.

Cutline, top photo: Members of the Stephens County Child Welfare Board and others release balloons at Foundation Park in downtown Breckenridge honoring kids in foster care in the county. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Stephens County Justice of the Peace Michael Roach leads members of the Stephens County Child Welfare Board and others in a prayer following a balloon release in downtown Breckenridge honoring kids in foster care in the county. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)